Zoanthid Care Guide: Light, Flow, Placement and What "1+ Polyp" Means

Zoanthids and palys are some of the easiest and most rewarding corals in a reef tank. They come in hundreds of named color morphs, they open into tight carpets of polyps, and a healthy frag keeps adding polyps month after month. This guide covers the recommended care for zoanthids, and how to read the polyp count on a TIA zoa listing.

Zoanthid care at a glance

Care level	Beginner
Lighting	Low to Moderate (PAR 70–150)
Flow	Low to Moderate
Placement	A rock island, to control spread
Feeding	Mostly photosynthetic; occasional broadcast feeding

Placement: give them their own rock

Zoanthids grow as spreading mats and can overgrow nearby surfaces, including the base of other corals. The simplest way to enjoy that growth without a fight is a rock island: a separate rock or frag plug area with a little sand between it and the neighbors. A colony can then spread to the edge of its own rock and stop.

Light and flow

Zoanthids do best under low to moderate light, around PAR 70–150. Inside that range most morphs keep their colors and open fully. Low to moderate flow is enough to keep detritus off the polyps without folding them over. If polyps stay closed for days after a move, give them a few days in the same spot before changing anything else.

Feeding

Zoanthids get most of what they need from light. Occasional broadcast feeding is fine, but it is not required for healthy colonies.

Handle zoanthids safely

General reef-keeping knowledge, not TIA-specific: some zoanthids and palythoa contain palytoxin, a strong toxin. Wear gloves and eye protection when you cut, scrape or move them, and keep them away from your face. Never boil rock that has zoanthids on it, and only scrub, scrape or pressure-wash such rock in a well-ventilated space. Wash your hands and tools afterward. If you develop symptoms after contact (eye pain, trouble breathing, fever), get medical care and mention palytoxin.

How TIA counts polyps on a zoa frag

Every TIA zoanthid listing states its own polyp count, and the size field on the product page shows it as POLYPS 1+ or POLYPS 2+. The description says either "1 or 1+ polyp depending on stock" or "2 or 2+ polyps depending on stock", and its price line says what the price covers (a frag with 1–2 polyps, or a frag with 2–3 polyps). The count on the listing you buy is the count that ships.

Most zoa listings use a reference photo from the same mother colony, so the frag you receive will be very similar to the one shown. Our zoa photos are taken under actinic-heavy Radion lighting; colors look different under other lights. Our post on why corals look different under different lights explains why.

Shipping

We ship live corals on Tuesday and Wednesday for next-day arrival (Wednesday–Thursday), normally FedEx Priority Overnight, with a three-day live arrival guarantee.

Shop zoanthids

Browse every morph in stock in Zoanthids. A few morphs in stock now: Hyper Ham Ham, Nirvana, Pink Rapture, Alien Explosion and Aoi.